Joao Portugal Ramos, Alvarinho Portugal 2022

92 points James Suckling
"Pretty nose of chopped apples, pineapple and grapefruit, with some sea breeze. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and fruity, with a creamy texture and a long, salty finish."

90 points Wine Enthusiast
"From the north of the Vinho Verde region, this is a ripe, creamy wine. Its green fruits are fresh, providing contrast to the wine's richness."

Vinous Reverie Notes
João Portugal Ramos is Portugal’s most famous winemaker. Before he began making his own wines, he was a pioneering wine consultant widely considered Portugal’s Pierro Antinori (per New York Times). His many accolades include winning 2010 Personality of the Year and 2006 Producer of the Year. In the decades that Ramos has consulted, he almost single-handedly opened Portuguese winemaking to the benefits of modern technologies with an emphasis on low yields, occasional oak aging and the preservation of a grape’s natural fruit flavors. Vinho Verde is the largest wine region located in the northwest of Portugal with 9 sub-zones so it is important to note the fruit source and for this wine the sources were chosen very carefully. The amphitheater-shaped mountain range of the region has the greatest influence on climate - the "natural shelter" that is created limits the Atlantic influence, which is characteristic of the region. Thus, in the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço there are higher average temperatures in summer (better ripening), lower humidity (less incidence of mold) and also lower average annual rainfall than in the rest of Vinho Verde region which allows the grapes to ripen harmoniously without being diluted. Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of white grapefruit zest combined with flint and floral notes. Elegant and engaging, with a touch of white peach skin on the palate and a long mineral finish. The partial barrel fermentation rounds out angular edges, but the racy acidity brings you back for another sip. Food Pairing: Excellent partner for ceviche, Vietnamese-style summer rolls, Gazpacho, Greek feta, cucumber & olive salads and goat cheese.